Apparatus for cleaning and improving the surface of roads.



PATENTED Jzwaov.

No. 858.422.l

` y J. E. SMALES. AP'PARATUSPOR CLEANING AND IMPROVING THE SURPAGE OP ROADS.

` APPLIOATION FILED 11.4.3.9, 1907.r

NI N L u ggf b.

,f the following is a specification.

f -UNITEIl STATES PATENT oEEIeE.

.fron/1vl ELLIOTT 'si/mins, or LEATHE'RIIEAD, ENGLAND.

'.APPAnATIIs' non ennnivnie AND IMPRovINe THE SURFACE oF ROADS.

i No. 858,422;

Specification ofLetters Patent. Applicaties sied mmh s, 1907. serein. 361,39@

Patented July 2, 1907.

My invention relates to apparatus for thoroughly cleansing roads, footpaths, and the like from dust aridother refuse and for spraying over the cleansed surface a coating of tar or other-liquid suitable for laying the dust, and for improving the surface generally.

To this end I employ apparatus comprising' a tar receptacle and sprayer and a jet or jets of compressed air which impinging on the road remove the dust that is then conveyed into a hopper by a current of air produced by a blower or fan and then delivered yby means of a trough into a receptacle, or distributed upon the surface which has .been sprayed with the tarv or other suitable liquid on the road. A revolving brush or brushes is or are preferably heed-to precede the air and liquid distributing apparatus. The dust sweptby the brush is drawn into the hopper by a fan `or blower and is either retained in the receptacle or is distributedas required over the sprayed surface as may be desired.

The whole apparatus is mounted on or attached to a suitable vehicle and propelled by mechanical, electric or animal power and is provided with a suitable air compressor, an air chamber, and a tank or tanks. A spreader or squeegee may be attached for the better cquali zing of the liquid on the surface. Lime or other absorbents'may be distributed over't-he tar or other liquid either separate or mixed with the dust.

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred ernbodiment of this invention Figure l is a side elevation of the complete machine without the rear wheel in detail; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same.

The numbers apply to the same parts on both drawings. ,4 A

A boiler 1, supplies steam to the engine 2, and the air compressor 3, charging the air vessel 4, whichsu-pw plies air to the jets 5, 6, 7, which impinge on the road,

spray the tar, and convey the dust into and through the hopper 9, respectively. The rear wheels l0, are driven from pinions ll, by chains .12. lThe revolving brush-13, is driven from the toothed wheel 14, by chain 15, and is raised or lowered together with thehopper 9, and trough 25, by means of levers-androds 16.

'. 17 is the tar tank, and 18, is the water tank for supplying water to the boiler. The lime hopper 19, is connected-to the discharging end of dust trough 25, by flexible tubes 20, leversy 2l, and 22, regulate the compressed air and tar taps 23 and 24. The revolving brush, hopper 9, and trough 25, are attached to two rocking bars 26, which oscillate on the rear axle 27.' The hopper 9, contains a division plate 28, to prevent the current of air from jets 5 from acting` on the dust raised by brush 13 and two perforated or' wire screens 29, 29, to arrest the larger particles oi the dust or gritl that may be raised. A

division plate 8 upon which the brush 13 impinges is for the purpose of dislodging the dust .in .the brush. `The air jets 5 and 7, are attached-'5to the hppper 9, and rise 32, connecting the jets with the air supply .taps 33, 33,

compressor 3 with the air vessel 4.

30 is the steering wheel of the vehicle.

The apparatus shown in the drawings performs the operation as follows1-The revolving brush or brushes having removed and partly cleared the surface of the road of dust is followed by the jet or jets of air under pressure blowing on the road, dust arising fromthe brush and air jets is conveyed by a current of airinto the hopper, the tar or other liquid is then sprayed on to the cleaned surface of the road and the dus't distributed in the yrear over the surfacethat has received the tar or other liquid.

The liquid to be sprayed may be heated by means of a coil supplied with live or exhaust steam or by any other suitable means and the liquid may be discharged from the receptacle by air or other pressure. For the better employed. Theair and liquid jets may have dischargand fall with it, being provided with flexible tubes 32,

A spreading of the tar or other liquid on 4the road, yany of the well known spraying or atomizing devices may be `8 5 controlled by the lever 34. Pipe'l, connects the air ing orifices of any 'desired form, or may consist of one.

long slit or a series of slits. l

Any number of liquid or air jets may be closed so that those remaining open will operate on a narrower strip of the surface of the road and a shorter brush, to correspond with the surface to be sprayed, may be used.

For the purpose of operating on footpaths projecting arms to which are attached the air and liquid jets may be e1nployed.'

I am aware that dust collectors having revolving rents, and sprinkling devices are not new and that arrangements for properrlling such dust collecting ma- Chines are also not new and I do 'not c'laim as my invention any of 4these features.

claim to collect and be raised therein, a tank fortar or other suitable liquid, a discharge pipe therefrom, and'means for spraying the discharged liquid overthe ground, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for cleaning and spraying the surfaces of v brushes and means for conveying the dust by air curf jacent to und in the dust hopper .so as to cause the dust l roads and the like, comprising a vehicle carrying a dust hopper-communicating with a dust trough or receptacle, com'pressed air jets located adjacent to and in the dust hopper so as to cause the dust to collect and be raised therein, a tank for` tar or other suitable liquid, adischarge pipe therefrom, and means for spraying the discharged liquid over the ground, substantially as described.

V3. Apparatus for cleaning and spraying the surfaces of roads' and the like, comprising a vehicle fitted with means for sweeping the dust and raising it by air pressure, means forsprayingtar or' other suitable liquid 'on to the swept surface, and .means for returning the dust to the sprayed surface', substantially as and for the purpose hereinbeforefdescrlbed.

February 1907.

JOHN ELLIOTT SMALES. Witnesses:

H. D. JAMESON; H. C. MANGOLD. 

